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Produced and distributed by Jamie O’Reilly © J. O’Reilly Productions, Chicago
Michael P. Smith songs, ©ASCAP

Jamie and Michael’s last full album collaboration features the Songs you remember in a heartfelt, liberating musical journey.  Hear this personal and profound musical portrait of the Catholic America of the 40s, 50s, and 60s.  For multiple generations to enjoy together for years to come!

ABOUT THESE SONGS AND STORIES
Produced by J. O’Reilly Productions and recorded before a live audience at Chicago’s Chief O’Neill’s Pub. Michael, the oldest of six in the working class Irish/Italian neighborhoods of post WW-II New Jersey, and Jamie, a Baby Boomer from a huge artistic family in a small Illinois town –  tell of life in parochial school. Hear stories from Michael, as the oldest of six in the working class Irish/Italian neighborhoods of post WW-II New Jersey; and from Jamie, as a Baby-Boomer, and middle kid in a huge artistic family, in a small Illinois town during the 60s and 70s.

THE SONGLIST
Michael and Jamie in solos and duets:

1. Bring Flowers of the Fairest
2. Sr. Clarissa, Pagan Children
3. Tantum Ergo
4. When Blossoms Flowered Mid the Snow
5. Mary’s Boychild
6. She Would Sing the Kerry Dances words and music Tom Amandes
7. Sure Has Grown
8. I Fell Out of Love With Sin Today words by Jamie O’Reilly, music by Jamie O’Reilly & Michael Smith
9. Holy City, Bells of St. Mary’s
10. I Brought My Father With Me
11. Transfiguration by Jamie O’Reilly & Tom Amandes
12. Song of Bernadette
13. Vaya con Dios

Reviews archive

Already, another album featuring Michael Peter Smith
We reviewed Michael Peter Smith’s new album OLD MAN DANCING in this year’s March/April issue of Maverick, awarding it the maximum five stars. Hot on its heels we have the pretty much self-explanatory SONGS OF A CATHOLIC CHILDHOOD, his third collaborative release credited to Michael and singer/songwriter Jamie O’Reilly.Smith was brought up in post-WWII New Jersey, while in Jamie’s liner notes the Crystal Lake, Illinois raised musician admits she’s a baby boomer. Both now reside in Chicago and this sixty-five minute long, engaging marriage of original and cover songs and stories was recorded during a live performance of SONGS OF A CATHOLIC CHILDHOOD at the city’s Chief O’Neill’s Pub. O’Reilly (vocals) and Smith (vocals, acoustic guitar) are supported by John Abbey (bass).

Smith’s name is appended (as composer) to half-a-dozen songs. There’s the familiar and slyly worded “Sister Clarissa” and the more recent “Sure Has Grown,” while the rib-tickling “Pagan Children,” to which Jamie added some of the lyrics, is new. A composer in her own right, O’Reilly delivers “Transfiguration.” As for the other musical fare on offer, it ranges from the thirteenth century and St. Thomas Aquinas’ “Tantum Ergo” to the one just passed and “Bells Of St. Mary’s” (featured in the 1945 Crosby/Bergman movie) plus Jenny and Lennie’s “Song Of Bernadette.”

In terms of concept O’Reilly and Smith’s SONGS OF A CATHOLIC CHILDHOOD pursues the spirit of the latter’s classic reminiscence MICHAEL, MARGARET, PAT & KATE (1994). Essential.

 -Arthur Wood
–Published in the April 2012 Newsletter of Maverick
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